Mapping of Erosion by Wind with RS Data and GIS (case study of Dedoplistskaro Municipality, Georgia)

Wind erosion plays a significant role in the degradation of agricultural land. When formulating strategies for mitigating wind erosion, it is crucial to possess precise quantitative data pertaining to the possible soil loss. Various types of equations and models are developed for this objective. This article used the WEQ to quantify the mean annual soil loss resulting from wind erosion on agricultural soils within the Dedoplistskaro Municipality in Eastern Georgia. The area of eastern Georgia experiences a higher degree of wind erosion because of its specific meteorological characteristics. The agricultural soils in the study area have been identified based on the land use classification provided by the ESA in 2021. The climate data for the research area has been obtained from the GWA and MODIS open-access satellite images. The WSD was used as the primary data source for the computation of the soil erodibility index. To evaluate the impact of vegetation cover, the LAI was chosen, which was derived from the yearly average NDVI data acquired using Sentinel 2. The width of open plots was determined by applying satellite-based Land Use and Land Cover (LULC) open access data as well as data acquired from the Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection of Georgia. This data specifically pertains to windbreaks and plots that were occupied by perennial crops. The mathematical computations were executed via the web platforms GEE and ArcMap 10.8. Subsequently, a raster file depicting the probable soil loss resulting from wind erosion on the agrarian soils within the Dedoplistskaro municipality was obtained.